Majority (82 percent) of CSOs and CISOs have reported at least one cyber-attack on their organisation in 2019, according to the latest research by Proofpoint.
The study, which delved into how people-centric cyber-attacks are impacting organisations in the UAE, also noted that more than half (51 percent) of surveyed security leaders have reported multiple incidents.
Account compromise was the leading method of cyber-attack in the UAE in 2019, impacting 28 percent of companies surveyed, followed by credential phishing (20 percent) and insider threats (17 percent). Almost one third of respondents (29 percent) believe account compromise will continue to be the UAE’s biggest cyber threat over the next three years, followed by Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks (28 percent) and phishing (19 percent).
Cyber-attacks can have far-reaching and devastating financial and reputational impact for businesses. The research found that financial loss (29 percent) and data breaches (28 percent) were the biggest consequences for UAE organisations in 2019, followed by a decreased customer base (23 percent).
While organisations in the UAE are aware of the risks, many are not fully prepared. In fact, only 21 percent of respondents strongly agreed their organisation was prepared for a cyber-attack, with 43 percent somewhat agreeing. In terms of where the biggest risks lie, 59 percent of respondents cited outdated or insufficient cybersecurity solutions and technology, while more than half (55 percent) believe that human error and lack of security awareness was a risk factor for their organisation.
Though end-users are the front line of defense against cyber-attacks, there is a need for better security knowledge and awareness training. Common security errors made by employees according to CSOs and CISOs in the UAE include poor password hygiene (29 percent), mishandling sensitive information (25 percent), falling for phishing attacks (24 percent), and clicking on malicious links (20 percent). Interestingly, 19 percent cited criminal insider threats as a growing concern for businesses.
“A people-centric strategy is a must for organisations in the UAE, as cybercriminals increasingly target people rather than infrastructure, with the aim of stealing credentials, siphoning sensitive data, and fraudulently transferring funds,” Emile Abou Saleh, Regional Director, Middle East & Africa at Proofpoint said.
“With our research revealing that 39 percent of UAE CSOs and CISOs believe their employees make their business vulnerable to cyber-attacks, education and security awareness is a mission critical priority and could make the difference between an attempted cyber-attack and a successful one. Along with technical solutions and controls, a comprehensive training program should sit at the heart of an organisation’s cyber defense.”
Despite facing a fast-evolving threat landscape, three-quarters (75 percent) of respondents admitted to training their employees on cybersecurity best practices as little as twice a year or less. Meanwhile, only 23 percent of organisations in the UAE train their employees more than three times a year.
Organisations in the UAE are optimistic that cyber security will become more of a business priority moving forward, with 50 percent reviewing their cybersecurity strategy twice a year or more and 69 percent expecting their cybersecurity budget to rise by 11 percent or more over the next two years.
The full report is available at: https://www.proofpoint.com/uk/resources/white-papers/people-centric-cybersecurity-study-it-security-leaders-uae
